The United Synagogue

Beth Din's Iranian inspection

PRESS COVERAGE

London, 20th September, 2007

BETH DIN'S IRANIAN INSPECTION

Iran and Pakistan are not the most obvious venues for a London Beth Din kosher-food inspection.

But the two Islamic nations were among 35 countries spanned by the LBD’s theatre of operations this year.

Certifying ingredients for export to the international kosher-food market has become big business, and the United Synagogue’s kashrut division has had to spread its wings to keep up with the competition.

In Iran, the object of inspection was a brand of pomegranate juice; in Pakistan, guar gum. Other countries where inspections took place include Vietnam, Nigeria and Mauritius.

Although it is not uncommon for Beth Din staff to fly out to visit factories in China and elsewhere in the Far East, in Iran the work was carried out for it by a local Jewish community member.

The kashrut division’s global reach is apparent elsewhere. Users of the kosher-search facility launched earlier this year on its kosher.org.uk website have come, from among other places, Vatican City and Iraq.

This year, the division is looking to make a profit of just over £500,000 on a turnover of nearly £2.7 million, its director Rabbi Jeremy Conway informed the US council on Monday.

And it is increasingly turning to technology to promote kosher eating: the kashrut division now has its own page on the social-networking website, Facebook.


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Article Credit, Jewish Chronicle, www.thejc.com

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